Arch Enemy ranked
With a new era beginning, seems like an apt time to post this list |
| 1 |  | Arch Enemy
Anthems of Rebellion
Their breakout album and my entry into the band in 2003. Listening to it now and it’s still a heavyweight melodeath record, their most powerful statement. Loaded with memorable riffs in songs like Dead Eyes, Leader of the Rats, Exist to Exit but also deep in the track list in End of the Line and Saints and Sinners. A career peak.
4.8 |
| 2 |  | Arch Enemy
Doomsday Machine
Arch Enemy continued their career best form with razor sharp riffing and drumming with catchy, interesting songs lifted by the solos throughout. The machine like industrial themes carry through as intended. Can't understand why anyone would prefer their 90’s albums over this masterclass.
4.7 |
| 3 |  | Arch Enemy
War Eternal
New singer Alissa slots straight in and is ably supported by a raft of catchy melodeath songs that showcase AE at their most melodic and accessible, almost Maiden like. The t/t is a perfect example of this new direction. Album is a virtual masterclass of guitar playing riffs n solos and the drumming is precise n powerful.
4.5 |
| 4 |  | Arch Enemy
Blood Dynasty
A development on Deceivers’ variety and accessibility and overall a better collection of songs. Quality bangers scattered throughout. See my rev for more insight. Happy to see them in fine form and rank their discography from 2000 in top 5 from any band in the same period.
4.3 |
| 5 |  | Arch Enemy
Wages of Sin
A vast improvement and upgrade on the three 90’s albums with change in vocalist and guitar tuning. The riffs, drumming and arrangements are all so much better and provide the first memorable collection of songs. No one can deny Wages of Sin.
4.0 |
| 6 |  | Arch Enemy
Khaos Legions
The last of the Gossow albums ends on a high with a slew of great melodeath tracks like Black Flags, No Gods, City of the Dead and Raven. It’s the combination of solos and other lead work that sits above or in riffs with the other guitars that’s most notable. As always drumming is interesting as are the chorus' - much more so that the vast majority of other melodeath.
3.9 |
| 7 |  | Arch Enemy
Deceivers
Incorporating more heavy metal into their established melodeath sound keeps the band sounding fresh and interesting. The variety over the best songs - t/t, Sunset, Mirrors, Black Wings and Exiled proves my point. See my rev for more insight.
3.8 |
| 8 |  | Arch Enemy
Rise of the Tyrant
A return to the 90’s guitar tone and brutality however still retains that interesting songwriting style of the last 3 albums. A favourite of those who like the Liiva era. Best is the mid album run of Revolution, t/t and The Day You Died but my least favourite Gossow
3.5 |
| 9 |  | Arch Enemy
Will to Power
Nothing necessarily wrong with it, still got cools riffs n solos but just lacks memorability. Doesn’t really get going till The World is Yours and The Eagle Flies Alone but after that it’s slim pickings. Again not a bad album but a rare miss by AE and still better than 90% of the yawnsville melodeath out there.
3.0 |
| 10 |  | Arch Enemy
Burning Bridges
Ultimately brought down by the vocals, there’s some green shoots with regard to their classic melodeath riffing and solos to be found later in their discog. Songs like Pilgram and Seed of Hate also shows development of tempo by introducing bridges and mellower contrasts.
2.8 |
| 11 |  | Arch Enemy
Stigmata
See my comments for Black Earth. Horrendous vocals. Besides some intricate guitar playing creeping in at places, nothing stands out. Is another of the bland Gothenburg 90’s melodeath albums I couldn't get into at the time... or even now.
2.5 |
| 12 |  | Arch Enemy
Black Earth
The combination of b standard tuning, painful crash cymbals and awful vocals make this a tough listen. Inauspicious debut despite some promising riffing.
2.0 |
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